Credit where credit is due, our seat belt challenged New Jersey Governor John Corzine has submitted a budget that, shock of shocks, actually cuts spending!
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine had strong words yesterday for the Big Spenders of taxpayer money in his state: Game over, folks.
And while the reality of the $33 billion budget he proposed may fall short of the tone of his message, it could mark “a turning point,” as he called it, in Jersey’s historically disastrous fiscal path.
“Frankly,” Corzine said, “New Jersey has a government its people cannot afford. This budget declares the time of living beyond our means is over.”
His analysis is dead on.
New Jersey’s structural spending has long eclipsed reasonable expectations of revenue growth - even as vital needs, such as roadwork and other infrastructure, have gotten short shrift.
Meanwhile, the state’s mind-boggling per-capita debt load (and other encumbrances) have dogged taxpayers, throttled economic growth and, ironically, hamstrung reform itself.
Let’s face it: Trenton’s been headed full-speed for a fiscal cliff.
So what’s the governor’s prescription?
A budget he calls “cold-turkey therapy for our troubled spending addiction.”
Corzine wants to spend less, in actual dollars, next year than this year - something Jersey’s managed only three other times since 1951, he said.
Some outlays, as for schools, would jump - but others would fall, with overall spending dipping by $500 million.
10 responses so far ↓
1 Jason // Feb 28, 2008 at 12:57 pm
man, can you send corzine to IL to take over for Roddy B? Rod does wear his seatbelt, and that’s a huge plus…but spending and corruption in this state is the worst in the nation.
2 pax // Feb 28, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Don’t worry, Obama is sure to run for Governor of Illinois after his failed Presidential campaign.
3 Jason // Feb 28, 2008 at 2:18 pm
every day it looks more and more likely that he’s not only going to win the democratic nomination, but he’s got so much steam behind him, that it’s becoming inevitable that he’s going to win the presidency. mccain seems to be able to do nothing but step in shit these last couple of weeks, i dont know… i dont think i can vote for someone that touts universal healthcare and ending the war immediately, but i also dont think i could vote for a mccain/huckabee or romney ticket either. putting one of those guys in office as vice president gives them a leg-up on being the next president, and i just cant stomach any more of these freako religious conservatives running our country.
4 pax // Feb 28, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I honestly think that Obama is going to get destroyed in the general election. Momentum is fine, but the press will not let him go untouched all the way to November. The backlash is coming.
Just wait until he debates foreign policy with McCain, and tries to say that his foreign upbringing gives him insight, and McCain can say, yeah, I spent some time in Asia in the 60s myself..
Obama has never been attacked from the right, and he is so vulnerable from that angle, he is THE most socialist candidate since McGovern. No shot whatsoever, IMHO.
5 Jason // Feb 28, 2008 at 6:00 pm
we shall see. we shall see. i am not confident that it’s even possible for a republican to win the general election after bush…who knows.
6 Jason // Feb 28, 2008 at 6:10 pm
i mean seriously. there’s a FEVER around clinton and obama. i cant remember a fever like this in national politics since reagan. i am seriously convinced that whoever wins the dem nom, will be president in a landslide. mccain just doesnt have the personality to win.
7 pax // Feb 28, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Yeah, and no one would have thought Bush would win re-election either, until the Democrats nominated the worst possible candidate they could have picked.
And they’re about to do it again.
8 Jason // Feb 28, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I dont know man. Obama has the whole “cult of personality” thing going on that Reagan, JFK, etc had going for them. Let’s not forget that he carries the race card as well - don’t kid yourself, blacks will turn out in RECORD numbers to put this guy in office. in 1/2 the primaries he’s won (wisconsin, anyone?) he’s gone in a “statistical dead heat” with hilary and then CRUSHED her. there’s something to be said for momentum and personality, and he has both. this guy is no John Kerry dude. I dont think McCain can compete with that.
9 pax // Feb 28, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Yes, Obama is a very strong *Democratic primary* candidate. It remains to be seen how he will do when attacked in all the ways Hillary cannot attack him. Namely, his inexperience and extremely socialist positions.
You sound pretty confident.. Is that a wager I smell?
It would be pretty funny, both of us betting on a guy to become President who neither of us would vote for… Hehe…
10 Jason // Feb 28, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Sure i am down. But it will only take effect if and when obama wins the democratic nomination.
What terms do you suggest?
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